Dispensers for paper toweling



March 14, 1961 G. x. BATLAS EIAL 2,974,839

DISPENSERS FOR PAPER TOWELING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1958INVENTOR. GEORGE X. BATLAS STEPHEN BARANSKI f w ATTORNEY.

March 14, 1961 G. x. BATLAS ETAL DISPENSERS FOR PAPER TOWELING FiledJuly 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE X. BATLAS STEPHENBARANSKI BY 2 ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 G. x. BATLAS El'AL 2, 4,8

DISPENSERS FOR PAPER TOWELING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1958INVENTOR. GEORGE X. BATLAS STEPHEN BARANSKI ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 GX.BATLAS EIAL 2,974,839

DISPENSERS FOR PAPER TOWELING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 16, 1958 NNEANNIE INVENTOR. GEORGE X. BATLAS STEPHEN BARANSKI ATTORNE).

United States Patent Q? DISPENSERS FOR PAPER TQWELING George X. Batlas,21-47 35th St., Astoria, N.Y., and Stephen Baranski, 31 Norfolk St., NewYork, N .Y.

Filed July 16, 1958, Ser. No. 748,965

19 Claims. 01. 225-12 This invention relates generally to dispensers forpaper toweling, and more particularly is directed to dispensersoperative to provide separated lengths of paper toweling or other sheetmaterial supplied as a continuous web or strip in either folded or rollform.

Usually, paper towel dispensers of the described character are installedin public washrooms and the like and are periodically serviced by anattendant or custodian whose task it is to renew the supply of folded orrolled paper towelling in the dispenser so that such supply will not beexhausted during the intervals between the periodic service calls. Thus,if the attendant, upon opening the dispenser, finds that the portion ofthe folded stack or roll of paper toweling then remaining therein is notlikely to last until the next service call on that dispenser, it hasbeen the usual practice to remove the partly depleted folded stack orroll and install a new folded stack or roll in its place. The partlydepleted folded stack or roll, which has been removed, is thendiscarded, in which case all of the paper toweling remaining in suchfolded stack or roll is wasted, or, in the interest of economy theremoved partial folded stack or roll may be placed in an exposedposition, for example, on the top of the dispenser or on a wash basin,where it soon becomes soiled so that patrons are reluctant to use suchpaper toweling and, in any case, substantial quantities of the latterare regularly wasted.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide papertowel dispensers which permit dispensing of all of the paper toweling ineach folded stack or roll without the danger that the supply of papertoweling will be exhausted during the intervals between the times whenan attendant regularly examines the dispenser to replenish the supply offolded or rolled paper toweling therein.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the above object isachieved by providing a dispenser adapted to hold two folded stacks orrolls of paper toweling, and r' wherein the dispenser is constructed andarranged to initially dispense paper toweling from a first folded stackor roll thereof and, when that first folded stack or roll is exhausted,to automatically dispense paper toweling from a second folded stack orroll, so that, during the dispensing of the first folded stack or roll,the full second folded stack or roll is available in reserve and, duringthe dispensing of the second folded stack or roll, the exhausted firstfolded stack or roll can be replaced by a new supply without discardingthe paper toweling that may then remain in the second folded stack orroll.

Another object is to provide simple means within the dispenser forobtaining the above mentioned dispensing of paper toweling from the twofolded stacks or rolls, in sequence, and without requiring anyalteration or modification of the folded stacks or rolls of papertoweling such as would increase the cost of the latter.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the dispenser forsuccessively dispensing paper toweling from first and second foldedstacks or rolls thereof includes parallel dispensing and pressurerollers between which the paper toweling passes during the dispensingthereof,

iQQ

an auxiliary or control roller disposed adjacent the pressure roller ata location on the circumference of the latter which is remote from theline of rolling contact of the pressure roller with the dispensingroller, and control means for bodily moving the auxiliary roller towardand away from the surface of the pressure roller in accordance with thesupply of paper toweling remaining in the folded stack or roll fromwhich the paper toweling is first dispensed so that so long as asubstantial supply of paper toweling remains in the first folded stackor roll the auxiliary roller is spaced from the pressure roller and theleading end of the web of paper toweling in the second folded stack orroll may hang loosely and immobile therebetween, Whereas, when thesupply of paper toweling in the first folded stack or roll is almostdepleted, the auxiliary roller is pressed against the pressure rollerand the leading end of the web of paper toweling therebetween isfrictionally engaged by the pressure roller and carried by the latterbetween the pressure roller and the dispense ing roller to therebycommence dispensing of the paper toweling from the second folded stackor roll as the supply of paper toweling in the first folded stack orroll becomes exhausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively simpledispenser for folded or'rolled paper toweling, wherein the papertoweling is in a continuous web or sheet and feeding thereof is effectedmerely by exerts ing a pull on the free end of the web or sheet in orderto expose a predetermined length of the toweling, whereupon furtherfeeding of the web or sheet of paper toweling is interrupted for acontrolled period and the exposed length of the toweling can beseparated from the remainder of the latter by tearing along a serratedcutting edge, and wherein the period during which feeding of the papertoweling is periodically interrupted is adjustably determined by animproved timing mechanism.

A still further object is to provide dispensers for folded stacks orrolls of paper toweling which are eifective to avoid waste of thelatter, as previously described, and which embody structural features toensure the reliable operation thereof even when the folded stacks orrolls of paper toweling are negligently installed in the dispenser.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention, will be apparent in the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a dispenser for folded paper towelingconstructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the dispenserof Fig. 1, but with the cover thereof being shown in a partly openedposition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the dispenser of Figs. 1and 2, but with the cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the dispenser with the coverremoved as viewed in the direction of the arrows 44 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing the side of thedispenser seen when viewed in the direction of the arrows 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 3,but showing the dispenser with the cover thereon and illustrating themanner in which the paper toweling is dispensed from a first foldedstack thereof;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6, but illustrating theoperation of the dispenser when feeding of the paper toweling from thesecond folded stack thereof is commenced;

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary detail view of a portion of Fig. 7 for betterillustrating the commencement of the feeding of paper toweling from thesecond folded stack when the supply of paper toweling of the firstfolded stack is nearly depleted.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 5and illustrating a timing mechanism associated with the dispenser inaccordance with the invention; 7

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 10 -10 of Fig.9 and showing the configuration of a control cam associated with thedispensing roller of the dispenser embodying the invention;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing the intejrior of anelement included in the timing mechanism of Figs. 5 and 9; I p Fig. 12is a front elevational view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing adispenser constructed in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention and adapted to sequentially dispense paper toweling from firstand second rolls thereof; Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of thedispenser of Fig. 12, partly broken away and in section, andillustrating the operation of the dispenser during the feeding of papertoweling from the first roll therein; and

Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13, but showing the operationof the dispenser during the commencement of feeding of paper towelingfrom the second roll therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Eigs. l to 7thereof, it will be seen that a dispenser embodying the presentinvention and there generally identifi'ed by the reference numeral 14)includes a cabinet adapted for mounting on a wall or other verticalsupporting surface and having a back wall 11 with a mounting bracket 12thereon (Figs. 2, 4 and 5), inner side walls 13 and 14 with outwardlydirected peripheral flanges, and a bottom wall 15 (Figs. 6 and 7) which,at its forward edge, is bent upwardly and spaced rearwardly from thelower edgeof an arcuate guide piece 16 extending laterally between sidewalls 13 and 14 to define a downwardly opening discharge slot 17. Thecabinet of dispenser 19 further has a removable cover including a frontwall 18 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7), side walls 1% extending rearwardly fromfront wall 18 and spaced laterally apart so that such side walls 19 willbe disposed outside of the inner side walls 13 and 14 when the'cover isin its closed position, and a top wall 20. The cover is suitably mountedfor providing convenient access to the interior of the cabinet while thelatter is supported on a wall or other vertical supporting surface. Forexample, a screw 21 (Figs. 1 and 2) may extend through an opening ineach side wall 19 of the cover adjacent the bottom of the latter andinto a tapped hole 22 (Figs. 4 and 5) formed in a flange on the adjacentinner side wall 13 or 14 ofthe cabinet so that the cover can swing froma closed position (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) forwardly to an open position, asindicated in Fig. 2.

In order to hold the cabinet cover in its closed position, a detent 23(Figs. 6 and 7) can be mounted in a forwardly directed flange at the topof back wall 11 to engage in an opening formed in top wall of the coveradjacent the back edge thereof. Opening of the cabinet cover byunauthorized persons is discounaged by an angle member 24 secured to thetop of back wall 11 and having a leg extending over detent 23 with asmall opening 25 therein aligned with the detent so that the latter canbe depressed for release from the opening in the top wall 20 onlythrough the use of a tool in the possession of the servicing personnelwhich is shaped so as to be extended through the opening 25 of anglemember 24-. It is also apparent that the screws 21 may be removed,thereby to permit bodily removal of the cover from the remainder of theCabinet.

As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, the front wall 18 of the cover has a lowerportion 26 which extends laterally thereacross coextensive with the slot17 and which is inclined downwardly and forwardly so that a blade 27secured to the inside of portion 26 along the lower edge thereof andhaving a serrated tearing or cutting edge is spaced forwardly asubstantial distance from the lower edge of the guide plate 16 for apurpose hereinafter described in detail.

The dispenser 19 includes a dispensing roller 28 having trunnions 29projecting axially from the opposite ends and rotatably mounted'insuitable bearings carried by the side walls 13 and 14 and located sothat the roller 28 extends across the lower front portion of the cabinetin back of the guide plate 16 and a vertical plane tangent to the frontof the roller 28 passes through the discharge slot 17. A pressure roller30 (Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8) is rotatably mounted above the dispensingroller 28 in front of the vertical plane passing through the axis ofrotation of the latter and is yieldably urged toward the dispensingroller to press a web or sheet of paper toweling against the surface ofroller 28 so that the feeding of the paper toweling downwardly throughthe slot 17 will be controlled by the rotation of the dispensing roller.The pressure roller 39 may also have trunnions projecting axially fromthe opposite ends and rotatably received in bearings which are slidablyaccommodated in slots 31 (Figs. 4 and 5) which extend generallyvertically in the side walls 13 and 14 of the cabinet. Springs 32 areconnected to the bearings receiving the trunnions at the opposite endsof pressure roller 30 and to suitable anchors on the side walls 13 and14 below slots 31 to urge, the pressure roller downwardly against thedispensing roller 28.

Thedispenser 10 further includes mechanism for controlling the rotationof the dispensing roller 28 so that. at the end of each completerevolution thereof, rotation of the roller 28 will be arrested for apredetermined period to permit tearing-off of an exposed length of thepaper toweling against the cutting edge of the blade 27, as hereinafterdescribed in detail, and then the roller 28 will be automaticailyreleased for renewed rotation without requiring any manipulation by theuser other than the natural and instinctive exertion of adownwardpulling force upon the free end of the web or strip of papertoweling projecting downwardly from the slot 17.

The control mechanism for dispensing roller 28 in the illustratedembodiment of this invention is generally similar to that described inthe application for United States Letters Patent identified as SerialNo. 571,017, filed March 12, 1956, by George X. Batlas and Emanuel N.Pantazi's, and includes a cam member 33 (Figs. 9 and 10) in the form ofa disc of the same diameter as the body of roller 28 and secured to theend of the latter adjacent side wall 14 of the cabinet. The cam member33 has a spiral cam surface 34 projecting from its outer surface andincreasing in radius in the direction opposed to the normal rotation ofthe cam mem er with roller 28, as indicated by the arrow 35 on Fig. 10,between a radially inner end and a radially outer end which areconnected by a substantially radial shoulder 36. The cam member 33 alsohas an abutment 37 projecting from its outer surface and formed with astop surface 38 (Fig. 10) at its leading end, considered in thedirection of the normal rotation of the cam member. The stop surface 38extends substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation ofthe cam member across the radially outer end of cam surface 34 and isspaced from the shoulder 36 in the direction opposed to the normalrotation of the cam member. The inner edge 39 of the abutment 37 isspaced radially outward from the adjacent portion of the spiral camsurface as.

The mechanism for controlling the rotation of dispensing roller 28further includes a follower pin 46 which projects through a verticallyelongated slot 41 (Figs. 5 and 9) in the side wall 14 and which isengageable with the spiral cam surface 34 and the abutment 37, ashereinafter described in detail. The follower pin 4% has two axiallyspaced apart discs 42 fixed on the outer end portion thereof, and thelength of the pin 40 between such discs 42 is adapted to be slidablyreceived in an upwardly opening, vertically elongated slot 43 (Fig. 5)formed in a mounting plate 44 which is secured to the outside of sidewall 14 and spaced from the latter. The vertical longitudinal axis ofslot 43 intersects the axis of rotation of the cam member 33 withdispensing roller 28.

A piston rod 45 extends upwardly from a timing mechanism mounted on theplate 44 and generally identified by the reference numeral 46, and whichis hereinafter described in detail, and the upper end of rod 45 isslidably guided in an aperture of anangle member 47 projecting from sidewall 14. A lug 43 projects from the outer disc 42 on the follower pin 48and 'is suitably secured to the rod 45 so that the latter will movevertically with the follower pin 48. Further, a helical compressionspring 49 extends around rod 45 between the angle member 47 and the lug48 in order to urge both the follower pin 40 and the rod 45 in thedownward direction. Thus, the inner end of follower pin 48 is made tobear radially against the spiral cam surface 34 of cam member 33. Thediameter of at least the inner end portion of pin 40 is slightly smallerthan the distance between top surface 38 and shoulder 36 and thedistance between the inner edge 39 of abutment 3'7 and the adjacentportion of the spiral cam surface 34 so that the pin 40 can.- moveradially, W'ith respect to the axis of cam member 33, through the spacebetween stop surface 38 and shoulder 36 and so that the inner surface 39of abutment 37 and the adjacent portion of spiral cam surface 34 canpass the pin 49, at opposite sides of the latter, when the cam member 33is initially rotated with the roller 23 in the direction of the arrow 35from the position illustrated in Fig. 10.

Assuming that a web, strip or continuous sheet A of paper toweling froma folded stack thereof mounted Within the cabinet, as hereinafterdescribed in detail, is led downwardly in back of the pressure roller 30and then forwardly between the pressure roller and the dispensing roller28 before being deflected downwardly by the guide plate 16 for exitthrough the slot 17, it is apparent that any advancement of the Web orstrip A, in raponse to a downward pull exerted on the free exposed endthereof, will produce a corresponding rotation of dispensing roller 28.Thus, starting with the cam member 33 in the position of Fig. 10, adownward pull on the free exposed end of web A will withdraw anincreasing length of the latter from the cabinet and, simultaneously,the cam member 33 will rotate with roller 28 in the direction of thearrow 35 so that the spiral cam surface 34 will progressively urge thefol-lower pin 49 upwardly against the force of the spring Toward the endof a complete revolution of cam member 33 with roller 28, the outer endof cam surface 34 will have moved the pin 40 radially upward into thepath of stop surface 33 which will engage the pin 49 and thereby arrestthe rotation of the cam member 33 with the roller 23 so that withdrawalof the web A is then halted.

After rotation of the dispensing roller 23 has been arrested, asindicated above, the spring 49 will cause movement of the pin 46radially downward, with respect to the axis of rotation of cam 33,between stop surface 33 and shoulder 36 until the follower pin 4%) isagain disposed in the radial position of Fig. it), whereupon the cam 33and the dispensing roller are again free to rotate in response to a.pull exerted on the web A for withdrawing the latter through slot 17.

During the time that the rotation of roller 28 is arrested, the lengthof the paper toweling web A withdrawn from the cabinet may be separatedfrom the remainder of the continuous web Within the cabinet by tearingalong the serrated cutting edge of the blade 27.

The timing mechanism 46 is provided for the purpose of adjustablyslowing the downward movement of follower pin 49 from the radiallyupward position where it is engaged by the stop surface 38, and therebyhalts rotation of the dispensing roller, to the radially loweredposition of Fig. 10, wherein the dispensing roller is again free torotate. Referring to Figs. 5, 9 and 11, it will be seen that the timingmechanism 46 includes a vertical cylinder 50 mounted in a bracket 51which is vertically adjustably secured to the mounting plate 44. Thepiston rod 45 extends downwardly into cylinder 50 and has a radialflange 52 at its lower end (Fig. 11), and a piston 53 is looselyslidable on rod 45 above the flange 52 and carries an O-ring 54 in acircumferential V groove for sealing engagement with the inside surfaceof movement of rod 45, the O-ring 47 is pressed downwardly againstpiston 53 to transmit the downward movement to the latter and tosubstantially seal the upper end of the annular clearance 58 existingbetween rod 45 and the piston 53, whereby the air in cylinder 54 issubstantially trapped below piston 53 to resist the downward movement ofrod 45. However, the upper surface of piston 53 is provided with atleast one radially extending groove (not shown) of small cross-sectionalarea to provide a small discharge outlet under the ring 57 for the airescaping from below piston 53 through the annular clearance 58 to thespace within cylinder 56 above the piston 53.

Thus, it will be apparent that the speed of the downward movement offollower pin 40 from its raised position where stop surface 38 engagesthe follower pin, to its lowered position of Fig. 10, where thedispensing roller 28 is again free to rotate, will be determined,following the engagement of sealing ring 47 with the top surface ofpiston 53, by the rate at which the air can escape radially outwardunder ring 57 through the radial groove cut in the upper surface ofpiston 53, as mentioned above. When it is desired to adjust the periodduring which rotation of dispensing roller 28 is arrested in eachoperating cycle, it is only necessary to loosen the set screw 56 and tosuitably adjust the sleeve 55 axially with respect to the rod 45. Thus,if the sleeve 55 is raised relative to the rod 45, it is apparent thatthe follower pin 40 will be free to move downwardly a substantialdistance from its raised position where it is engaged by the stopsurface 3-8 prior to the engagement of sealing ring 57 with the topsurface of piston 53. During such initial downward movement of followerpin 40, rod 45 will move axially relative to piston 53 so that the airbelow the latter in cylinder 53 will not offer any resistance to thedownward movement of rod 45 with pin 40' and such downward movement mayoccur at a relatively high speed under the influence of the spring 49.The downward movement of pin 40 at a reduced speed will occur onlyfollowing the engagement of ring 57 with the top surface of piston 53,and the axial adjustment of sleeve 55 relative to rod 45 serves to varythe portion of the downward operating stroke of rod 45 which occurs withthe ring 57 in engagement with piston 53.

In order to avoid any substantial pneumatic resistance to the upwardmovement of the rod 45 with the follower pin 40 during rotation of cam33 with the dispensing roller 28, the flange 52 at the bottom of rod 45is formed with a radial notch 59 (Fig. 11) having a relatively largecross-sectional area and communicating directly with the clearance 58 sothat, when the flange 52 bears upwardly against piston 53 to causeupward movement of the latter,

air within the cylinder above piston 53 can pass downwardly, with littleresistance, through the clearance 58 and the notch 59 into the part ofcylinder 54} below piston 53.

It will be apparent that, during each revolution of cam 33 with roller28, a length of the web A of paper toweling equal to the circumferenceof roller 28 will be withdrawn through the discharge slot 17 of thecabinet. The successive withdrawn lengths of the web A may beindividual-ly separated from the remainder of the paper toweling in thecabinet by tearing along the cutting edge of blade 27, as previouslydescribed, or the user may repeatedly operate the dispenser prior totearing off a length of the web of paper toweling which is equal to anydesired whole multiple of the circumference of roller 28.

The dispenser it) may also include a signaling device which is operativeto indicate to the user when the dispensing roller 28 is again free forrotation following the arresting of the rotation of the dispensingroller at the conclusion of an operating cycle of the dispenser. Asshown in Figs. 3 and 5, such signaling device may include an elongatedsignaling member 69 which is slidably guided against the back surface ofthe peripheral flange extending along the front edge of side wall 14 ofthe cabinet and having an extension 61 (Fig. 5) which is engageable withthe upper end of rod 45, so that the signaling member 64) movesvertically with the rod 45. The signaling member 6% has the word pull orsome other suitable legend printed or engraved on the front facethereof, and the peripheral flange of side wall 14 is provided with a-cutout 62 (Fig. 3) which is vertically located so that such legend onthe signaling member 60 will be exposed at the cut-out or opening 62only when the rod 45 is in a lowered position corresponding to thelowered position of follower pin 4%) illustrated in Fig. 10, where thedispensing roller 28 is free to rotate in response to thewithdrawal ofthe web A from the cabinet. As shown in Fig. l, the front wall 18 of thecover is also provided with a window 63 which is aligned with theopening 62 when the cover is in its closed position. Thus, duringwithdrawal of the web A from the cabinet, the corresponding upwardmovement of follower pin 49 and rod 45 will elfect upward displacementof signaling member 60 so that the legend or word pull is displacedupwardly with respect to the opening 62 and window 63. After therotation of dispensing roller '28 has been arrested by engagement of thestop surface 38 with the raised follower pin 40, the word pull will notreappear at the window 63 until the pin 4% has returned to its loweredposition of Fig. at the speed determined by the timing mechanism 46.When the word pull reappears at the window 63, this signals that theexposed end of the web A of paper toweling may again be pulleddownwardly to withdraw a length of the toweling from the cabinet.

By reason of the fact that the cutting edge of the blade 27 is spaced asubstantial distance forwardly from the lower edge of the guide plate16, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the line along which the web is torn bythe blade 27 will be spaced substantially by that distance from the lineon the web where the latter contacts the lower edge or" guide plate 16.Thus, after a portion of the web has been torn from the remainderthereof and the free edge of the web again depends substantiallyvertically from the discharge slot 17, such free edge of the web willproject out of the discharge slot by substantially the horizontaldistance between the lower edge of plate 16 and the cutting edge ofblade 27 to provide a substantial exposed free end portion that can beeasily grasped for again pulling a length of the Web of paper towelingfrom the cabinet.

in the event that the web of paper toweling inadvertent ly tears in backof the cutting edge of the blade 27, as may happen infrequently, thedispensing roller 28 may be manually rotated, by a device to bedescribed in detail, until an adequate free end portion of the web againprojects from the slot 17 and can be conveniently grasped for exertingthe necessary pull thereon. As shown in Fig. 4, the device for manuallyrotating the dispensing roll 28 includes a ratchet 64 fixed to thetrunnion 29 of the roller 28 which is rotatably mounted in side wall 13,a wheel 65 rotatable on the trunnion 29 next to the ratchet 64 andprojecting forwardly from the cabinet through registering openings 66(Fig. 4) and 67 (Fig. 1) formed in the flange of side wall 13 and in thefrontwall 13 of the cover, respectively, and a spring urged pawl 68pivotally mounted on the wheel 65 and engageable with the toothedperiphcry of ratchet 64. When the wheel 65 is manually rotated in thedirection of the normal rotation of roller 28, that is, in thecounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, such rotation istransmitted to the dispensing roller 28 by the pawl 68 and ratchet 64.However, if the wheel 65 is inadvertently turned in the reversedirection, the pawl 68 slips over the teeth of ratchet 64 and therebyprevents corresponding reverse rotation of the dispensing roller whichwould have the elfect of pushing the web of paper toweling back into thecabinet and out of its proper threaded engagement between rollers 28 and30.

The dispensers embodying the present invention are adapted to containtwo supplies of paper toweling which are successively dispensed withoutinterruption. Thus, the dispenser it presently being described isadapted to first dispense the continuous web A of paper toweling whichis supplied in the form of a folded stack A, and, upon the depletion orexhaustion of the web A, to then dispense the continuous web B of papertoweling which is supplied in the form of a folded stack B.

in order to effect the successive dispensing of the webs A and B, thedispenser 1G embodying the present invention includes a control roller69- extending laterally across the cabinet above the pressure roller 31?and initially spaced from the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. The controlroller 69 is mounted, as hereinafter described in detail, for movementtoward and away from the pressure roller 30 in accordance with theamount of the first dispensed web A remaining within the cabinet. Thus,when a substantial portion of the folded stack A remains within the thecabinet, the control roller 69 is spaced from the pressure roller 30, asin Fig. 6, and, when the stack A is almost completely depleted, as inFig. 7, the control roller 69 moves downwardly against the pressureroller 30.

As is shown in Fig. 6, when the cabinet of the dispenser i0 is loaded,the web A of the lower folded stack A is fed in back of the rollers 69and 30 and then forwardly between the rollers 30 and 28 prior to beingdeflected downwardly through the discharge slot 17 by the plate 16,while the web B from the upper folded stack B is led downwardly in backof control roller 69 and then forwardly through the gap between theroller 69 and the pressure roller 30. Thus, when the user exerts adownward pull on the exposed end of web A for withdrawing a length ofthe latter from the cabinet, the rollers 28 and 30 rotate intheclockwise and counter-clockwise directions, respectively, as viewedin Fig. 6, by reason of their frictional contact with the withdrawn webA. However, by reason of the spacing of control roller 6? from pressureroller 30, the free end portion of the web B passing therebetweenremains immobile. the dispensing of almost all of the web A contained inthe lower folded stack A, the web B remains in the position illustratedin Fig. 6. However, when the lower folded stack A is almost entirelydepleted and control roller 69 is moved downwardly against pressureroller 30, as in Figs. 7 and 8, the web B is gripped between rollers 30and 69 and is frictionally gripped by the pressure roller 39 to movewith the latter as the rollers 28 and 30: are rotated in response tofurther withdrawal of the web A from discharge slot 17 of the cabinet.It will be apparent that, during such rotation of pressure roller 30,the top portion of the surface thereof which is frictionally engagedwith the web B moves rearwardly, as is shown in detail Thus, during 9 inFig. 8, and forms a fold inthe' web B between the downwardly moving webA and the downwardly and rearwardly moving portion of the surface ofpressure roller 30, as at 70. Thus, the web B is frictionally grippedbetween the web A and the surface of pressure roller 30 and is drawnwith the web A between the pressure roller and dispensing roller 28 forguidance by the plate 16 out of the discharge slot 17, Upon exhaustionof the web A, the web B projects from the discharge slot 17, and theuser may then pull downwardly upon the exposed portion of the Web B so"that paper toweling continues to be dispensed, without interruption,following the complete depletion of the folded stack A.

In the dispenser 10, the lower and upper folded stacks of paper towelingA and B are supported on lower and upper shelves 71 and 72,respectively, extending laterally across the cabinet between side walls13 and 14 at vertically spaced apart locations. The lower shelf 71 ispivotally supported on a pin 73 extending laterally thereacrossapproximately mid-way between the front and rear edges of the shelf andhaving its opposite ends rotatably received in laterally alignedopenings formed in side walls 13 and 14 so that the lower shelf 71 canrock between the horizontal position of Fig. 6 and the tilted positionof Fig. 7 wherein the front of the shelf is lowered and the back of theshelf is raised. A rod 74 also extends laterally across shelf 71 and isspaced forwardly from the pivoting axis defined by the pin 73. Theopposite ends of rod 74 project slidably through vertically elongatedslots 75 formed in side walls 13 and 14 (Figs. 4 and 5), and tensionsprings 76 are connected between the ends of rod 74 and suitable anchorsprovided therebelow on side walls 13 and 14, so that the springs 76 tendto urge shelf 71 to the tilted position of Fig. 7.

Further, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the dispenser includes a supportfor the control roller 69 which is generally identified by the referencenumeral 77 and which has a laterally extending cross member 78 (Fig. 3)and two side members 79 extending rearwardly from the opposite ends ofcross member 78 and formed with elongated slots 80 in which the ends ofthe pin 73 and the rod 74 are slidably received so that the support 77is slidable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to shelf 71 in theplane of the latter. The control roller 69 has an axle 81 projectingfrom its opposite ends and rotatably journalled in openings formed inside members 79 of support 77 adjacent the forward ends thereof. Thus,when the support 77 is moved forwardly relative to shelf 71 until theback ends of the slot 80 are engaged by the pin 73, as in Fig. 5, thecontrol roller 69 is spaced substantially forwardly with respect topressure roller 30, thereby to facilitate the loading of the dispenserand particularly the threading of the web B between rollers 30 and 69.On the other hand, when the support 77 is moved to its rearmost positionrelative to shelf 71 where the ends of rod 74 engage the forward ends ofslot 80, as in Fig. 4, the control roller 69 is disposed adjacent thefront edge of shelf 71 and moves in the generally vertical directionwith such front edge of the shelf in response to rocking of the latterbetween the horiozntal position of Fig. 6 and the tilted position ofFig. 7. It will be apparent that, when shelf 71 is in its horizontalposition, control roller 69 is spaced substantially from pressure roller30 (Fig. 6) so that, as previously described, the web B therebetweenwill remain immobile during the dispensing of the Web A from the foldedstack A supported on shelf 71. On the other hand, when shelf 71 istilted, as in Fig. 7 control roller 69 is moved downwardly againstpressure roller 30 to cause the feeding of the web B with the concludingportion of the web A, as previously described in detail.

In order to maintain shelf 71 in its horizontal position of Fig. 6 solong as a substantial portion of the stack A remains thereon and topermit the tilting of shelf 71 to the position of Fig. 7 by the springs76 upon the substantial depletion of the"stack'AQ the-dispenser '10includes an angle member 82 mounted on the front surface of the backwall 11 of the cabinet and vertically located so that the forwardlyextending leg of angle 82 will be spaced upwardly by a relatively smalldistance, for example, the thickness of several folds of the continuousweb of paper toweling in the stack A, from the upper surface of shelf 71with the latter in its horizontal position of Fig. 6. Thus, when thedispenser is loaded with the shelf 71 moved to its horizontal position,as hereinafter described in detail, the stack A is placed upon shelf 71and moved rearwardly on the latter so that the forwardly extending legof angle member 82 will enter between two of the folds of the stack Awith several of the folds being disposed between the top surface ofshelf 71 and the forwardly extending leg of angle member 82.Accordingly, when the shelf 71 is permitted to tilt to the position ofFig. 7, as hereinafter described in detail, the folds of paper towelinginterposed between the shelf and the forwardly directed leg of anglemember 82, as in Fig. 6, will prevent such tilting of the shelf untilsubstantially all of the web A has been dispensed to withdraw such foldsfrom between the shelf and the angle member 82, as in Fig. 7.

In order to ensure that the necessary several folds of the stack A willbe interposed between the horizontal shelf 71 and the angle member 82during the loading of the dispenser, the latter further includes a leafspring 83 which is secured, at its upper end, to back wall 11 anddiverges downwardly therefrom toward the front edge of the forwardlydirected leg of angle member 82', as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, if theattendant loading the dispenser merely drops the folded stack A upon thehorizontal shelf 71, the spring 83 will ensure that the bottom of thefolded stack will be disposed ahead of the forward edge of the forwardlydirected leg of angle member 82, and a laterally extending member 84 issecured to the back surface of front wall 18 of the cover and spacedrearwardly therefrom so that, when the cover is closed, the laterallyextending member 84 will push rearwardly against the stack A to slidethe latter rearwardly on the shelf 71 and thereby effect the entry ofthe horizontally extending leg of angle member 82 between the folds ofstack A in the required manner.

Further, it Will be seen that, when the cover of the cabinet is closed,the front wall 18 thereof will bear against a projection 85 (Figs. 3 and5) on cross member 78 of support 77, thereby to move the latterrearwardly with respect to shelf 71 for ensuring the disposition ofcontrol roller 69 in the position of Figs. 4 and 6, even in the eventthat the attendant loading the dispenser forgets to rearwardly displacesupport 77 prior to closing of the cover.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that a rim or flange 86extends laterally between side walls 13 and 14 along the front edge ofshelf 71. The lower edge of rim 86 is secured to a laterally extendingpin 87 which, at its opposite ends, is rotatably received in suit-' ableopenings provided in side walls 13 and 14 so that the rim 86 is rockableabout a horizontal, laterally extending axis coincident with its loweredge. A rod 88 extends along the upper edge of rim 86 and, at itsopposite ends, extends slidably through arcuate slots 89 formed in sidewalls 13 and 14 (Figs. 4 and 5) concentric with the axis of pivot pin87. Lugs 90 (Figs. 6 and 7) extend from the lower edge of rim 86 underthe front edge portion of shelf 71 and lie in a plane which is angularlyspaced from the plane of rim 86 by more than 90 degrees. Thus, when therim 86 is in the substantially vertical position of Figs. 6 and 7, thelugs 90 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly to permit tilting ofshelf 71 to the position of Fig. 7. However, when the rim 86 is inclinedforwardly with respect to the vertical to the extent permitted by thearcuate slots 89, the lugs 90 extend substantially horizontally from thepivoting of rim 86, as defined by pin 87, and engage under the leadingor front edge portion of shelf 71 to prevent the tiltingof the latterfrom its horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that a leaf spring 91 is secured,at its lower end, to the peripheral flange along the front edge of sidewall 13 and bears forwardly against the end of the rod 88' whichprojects slidably through the slot 89 in side wall 13. The spring 91 isdimensioned and of a suificiently stiff spring metal so that the forceexerted by spring 91 on rod 88 and tending to tilt the'rim 86 forwardlyto the position where the lugs 96 engage under shelf 71 to retain thelatter in its horizontal position, is large enough to overcome theforces exerted by the springs 76 and tending to move the shelf 71 to thetilted position of Fig. 7. Thus, so long as the spring 91 is free toexert its force upon the engaged end of rod 88, the shelf 71 will bemaintained in its horizontal position. However, the dispenser furtherincludes a finger 92 (Fig. 4) which is pivotally suspended, at its upperend, from a bracket 93 secured to the back face of the peripheral flangeextending along the front edge of the side wall 13, and the lower end offinger 92 engages in front'of the end of rod 88 engaged by spring 91. Aprojection 94 extends forwardly from finger 92 through an opening 95 inthe peripheral flange of side wall 13 and is engageable by the frontwall 18 of the cover when the latter is in its closed position. Thus,when the cover is opened, to permit loading of the dispenser, spring 91acts upon the rod 88 of rim 86 to tilt the latter forwardly and causethe lugs 90 to hold the shelf 71 in its horizontal position duringloading of the dispenser, whereby the necessary gap will appear betweenthe forwardly directed leg of angle member 82 and the rear portion ofshelf 71 to receive the lower folds of the stack A. When the cover isclosed, following the loading of the dispenser, the front wall 18 of thecover acts rearwardly upon projection 94 and thereby swings the finger92 rearwardly about the pivot bracket 93 so that the lower end of thefinger acts on rod 88 to move the rim 86 to its substantially verticalposition wherein the lugs 9d are directed downwardly away from the frontedge of shelf 71, as in Fig. 6, to permit the tilting of shelf 71 to theposition of Fig. 7 when the portion of the web A making up the foldsoriginally disposed between angle member 82 and the rear edge portion ofthe shelf has been dispensed.

The rim 86 also has a tongue 96 (Figs. 6 and 7) projecting rearwardlytherefrom at a location spaced upwardly from the pivoting axis of therim so that, when the rim 86 is moved toward its substantially verticalposition upon closing of the cover, the tongue 86 will enter between thefolds of stack A a short distance above the horizontal shelf 71 and willfrictionally bear downwardly upon the folds of the paper towelingdisposed below the tongue 96 to balance the frictional effect of theforwardly directed leg of angle member 82 and thereby ensure that thefinal folds of the stack A will unfold one at a time during thedispensing of the final portion of web A.

Although the upper shelf 72 may be fixed within the cabinet, it ispreferred, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, that the shelf 72 be pivotallymounted on a rod 97 extending along its rear edge and received, at itsopposite ends, in suitable openings formed in side walls 13 and 14,while lugs or tabs 98 are struck inwardly from side walls 13 and 14 tobe engaged by the side edge portions of shelf 72 and thereby limit thedownward swinging of the latter to the horizontal position shown inFigs. 6 and 7. However, the shelf 72 can be pivoted upwardly from itsillustrated horizontal position thereby to facilitate the loading oflower folded stack A into the dispenser. The shelf 72 further preferablyhas a centrally located cut-out 99 opening at the front edge .of theshelf to facilitate grasping of the upper folded stack B during theinsertion or removal of the latter, and an upstanding rim 100 is formedalong the front edge of shelf 72 at the opposite sides of cut-out 99 inorder to retain the stack B on shelf 72 during dispensing of the web B.V

1 The cabinet of dispenser 10 is completed by an upper plate Eeldisposed near the top of the cabinet and pivotally mounted, along itsrear edge, on a pin 1l2 having its opposite ends rotatably received insuitable openings in side walls '13 and 14, with tabs 1% being struckinwardly from side walis 13 and 14 to engage under member 101 forlimiting the downward swinging of the latter to a position illustratedin Fig. 6 where the forward edge of member 1191 bears downwardly on thetop of the full stack to initially frictionally resist the withdrawal ofWeb B from such folded stack. However, it will be apparent that themember 161 can be swung upwardly, as in Fig. 5, to facilitate theloading of the stack B on shelf 72. or the removal of the upper stackfrom the upper shelf.

The front wall 18 of the cover further preferably has a central openingres located in the lower portion of the front wall to permit the viewingtherethrough of the free end portion of web B when the latter extendsloosely between rollers 39 and 69, as in Fig. 6. Thus, if the free endportion of web B is visible through opening 194 of the cover, this factindicates that at least a portion of the lower stack A still remainswithin the dispenser as well as the full upper stack B. However, if theattendant cannot observe the leading edge portion of web B through theopening 194, this signifies that the lower stack A. has been exhausted,and that dispensing of the upper stack 1 has commenced. In that case,the attendant opens the cover of the dispenser and moves the remainderof the upper stack to the lower shelf 71, whereupon a fresh folded stackof paper toweling is'installed upon the upper shelf 72 and the free endportion of the Web in such freshupper stack is then threaded between thespaced apart rollers 39 and 69. Upon closing of the cover, the variousparts of the dispenser will be again disposed in the positions of Fig. 6so that dispensing of the web of paper toweling will continue from thestack on lower shelf '71 and, upon the exhaustion of such stack,dispensing of the web of paper toweling from the stack on upper shelf 72will then automatically commence, as in Fig. 7.

Although the above described dispenser 16 is intended to successivelydispense webs of paper toweling supplied in the form of two foldedstacks thereof, it is to be noted that the present invention may beembodied in a dispenser which similarly successively dispenses webs ofpaper toweling from two supplies thereof which are in the form of rolls,as in Figs. l2, l3 and 14.

The dispenser lfia of Figs. l2, l3 and 14 is generally similar to thepreviously described dispenser 10 and diifers from the latter obviouslyin the means for mounting the two supplies of paper toweling within thecabinet and in the means for sensing the depletion of the lower supplyof paper toweling and responding thereto in order to elfect thedispensing of paper toweling from the upper supply. In the illustrationof the dispenser 10a, the various parts thereof which correspond to thepreviously described parts of the dispenser 10 are identified by thesame reference numerals, but with the letter :1 appended thereto. Thus,the dispenser 1th: includes a cabi net having a back wall 11a,peripherally flanged side walls and 14a, and a bottom wall 15a having anupwardly bent front edge which is spaced from an armate guide piatc 16ato define a downwardly opening discharge slot 17a. The cabinet furtherincludes a cover having a front wall 18a and a top wall Zita with sideWalls (not shown) which extend rearwardly outside of the side walls 13aand 14a when the cover is in its closed position.

The dispenser 10a further includes a dispensing roll 281:, the rotationof which is controlled by devices pre- 13 viously described inconnection with the dispensing roll 28, a pressure roll 30a disposedabove dispensing roll 28a in front of a vertical plane passing throughthe axis of the latter and being pressed downwardly against thedispensing roller 28a so that a downward pull exerted on a web Cprojecting from slot 17a and passing between rollers 28a and 30a willcause rotation of such rollers. Further, the dispenser a has a controlroller 69a which is disposed above the pressure roller 30a and which ismovable toward and away from the latter in the same manner as thecontrol roller 69 of the first described embodiment.

The cabinet of the dispenser 10a is intended to contain two rolls C 'andD of paper toweling from which lengths of the paper toweling aredispensed successively and without interruption. Preferably, the rolls Cand D are mounted within the cabinet of dispenser 100 on a structure ofthe kind disclosed in the application for United States Letters PatentSerial No. 645,343, filed March 11, 1957, by George X. Batlas, one ofthe applicants herein, and which brieflyincludes an axle 105 having itsopposite ends journalled in the side walls 13a and 14a, and twolaterally resilient arms 106 and 107 mounted, at their centers, on theopposite end portions of axle 105 and extending parallel to each otherto swing together with the supporting axle 105. Each of the arms 106 and107 has circular lugs 108 extending from the opposite ends thereoftoward the other of the arms so that the lugs 108 of arm 106 and thelugs 108 of arm 107 are adapted to extend axially into, and to rotatablysupport, the opposite open ends of the usual hollow tubular cores of therolls C and D. The arms 106 and 107 are disposed immediately inside theside walls 13a and 14a so that the latter can, in certain dispositionsof the support, prevent lateral spreading apart of the arms 106 and 107and thereby prevent release of the lugs 108 from the ends of the relatedtubular cores.

In order to permit removal of a core from which all of the papertoweling has been dispensed and the replacement thereof with a fullroll, each of the side walls 13a and 14a has a cut-out 109 thereinregistering with the upper end portion of the adjacent arm 106 or 107when the support is disposed with the arms 106 and 107 extendingvertically so that the upper end portions of the arms can then be sprungor bowed outwardly through the cut-outs 109 to withdraw the lug 108 fromthe core of the roll disposed in the upper position.

It will be apparent that the core of a roll of paper toweling isreleasable from between the lugs 108 only when the ends of the arms 106and 107 carrying the latter are disposed uppermost and the arm extendvertically. Assuming that the dispenser 10a .is operative to dispenseall of the paper toweling from the lower roll C and then toautomatically dispense paper toweling from the upper roll D, it will beapparent that the core of the exhausted lower roll C can be removed, anda full roll installed in place thereof, only after the support for therolls has been rotated through 180 degrees in the clockwise direction asviewed in Figs. 13 and 14 to dispose the empty core at the top. In orderto avoid the removal of the lower roll by the attendant at a time when asubstantial quantity of paper toweling remains thereon, the back wall11a of the cabinet is positioned, in relation to the axis of the axle105, so as to be engaged by the lower roll containing a substantialquantity of paper toweling, and thereby to prevent reversal of thepositions of the upper and lower rolls so long as a predeterminedquantity of paper toweling remains on the lower roll. Accordingly, thecore of the lower roll will be movable to the upper position, forremoval and replacement by a full roll, only after the paper toweling ofthe lower roll has been fully dispensed, thereby avoiding the wastefuldiscarding of a roll having substantial quantities of paper towelingremaining therein.

In the dispenser 10a, the control roller 69a has the opposite ends ofits axle 81a slidably guided in arcuate slots formed in side walls 13aand 14a, and tension springs 111 are connected between the ends of shaft81a and suitable anchors on the side walls 13a and 14a to urge thecontrol roller 69a upwardly away from pressure roller 30a so that, whenthe web D from roll D' is threaded between rollers 69a and 30a, the webD will remain immobile, as in Fig. 13 during the feeding ofsubstantially all of the web C from the roll C.

in order to urge the roller 69a against pressure roller 30a upon thedepletion of the roll C, the dispenser 10a further includes a lever 112pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 113, on each of sidewalls 13d and 14a, with the forward end of-each lever 112 bearingdownwardly on the adjacent end of the shaft 81a of the control roller.The rear end of each lever 112 extends across a vertical slot 114 in therelated side wall 13a or 14a which is directed radially with respect tothe axis of rotation of the lower roll C, and the opposite ends of ashaft 115 are slidably received in the slot 114 with a roller 116 beingrotatable on the shaft 115 and engageable with the underside of the rollC. Springs 117 are connected between the ends of the shaft 115 andsuitable anchors 118 extending from side walls 13a and 14a in order tourge the roller 116 upwardly for maintaining roiling contact betweenroller 116 and the surface of roll C as paper toweling is dispensed fromthe latter to reduce the diameter thereof.

The pivot 113 of lever 112 is disposed so that when the paper towelingof roll C is substantially depleted, as in Fig. 14, the ends of shaft115 carrying the roller 116 will act upwardly against the levers 112 tocause pivoting of the latter in the clockwise direction, as viewed inFigs. 13 and 14, whereby the forward ends of the levers 112 will actdownwardly on the end of shaft 81a to move the control roller 69aagainst pressure roller 30a. It will be apparent that, in order toobtain the foregoing operation of the dispenser 10a, the springs 117urging roller 116 upwardly must be sutliciently strong to overcome theaction of the springs 111 which urge the control roller 69a upwardlyaway from pressure roller 30a.

When the control roller 69a moves against the pressure roller 30a inresponse to the depletion of the lower roll C, the web D from the upperroll D will be moved rearwardly over the pressure roller and therebyfolded between the web C and the pressure roller 30a in order tocommence the dispensing of the web D, as has been previously describedin connection with Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that the previously described dispensers 10 and 10aare both operative to successively dispense paper toweling from twodiiferent sources or supplies thereof within the cabinet so that, whenone source or supply is depleted and toweling is being dispensed fromthe other source or supply, the exhausted or depleted supply may bereplenished without discarding or wasting the paper toweling remainingin the cabinet. Further, it will be apparent that, in both describedembodiments of the invention, the successive dispensing of papertoweling from two different folded stacks or rolls thereof is achievedwithout resort to any alteration or modification of the conventionalpaper toweling, thereby to avoid any increase in the cost of the latter.

Although illustrative examples of the invention have been described indetail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to such examples orembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for continuous sheet material com- 75 prising a cabinethaving a discharge slot, means within said cabinet for supporting twosources of sheet material, two rollers in rolling contact with eachother in said cabinet and between which the sheet material from one ofsaid sources initially passes prior to projecting from the cabinetthrough said discharge slot so that said two rollers are rotated inresponse to the withdrawal of the sheet material from the cabinet, atthird roller mounted for movement toward and away from one of said tworollers, and means for displacing said third roller relative to said oneroller, said displacing means being operative to hold said third rollerspaced substantially from said one roller so long as a predeterminedamount of sheet material remain in said one source so that the sheetmaterial from the other source can then remain immobile between said oneroller and said third roller, and to move said third roller against saidone roller when the sheet material in said one source decreases beyondsaid predetermined amount so that the sheet material from the othersource is then frictionally engaged by said one roiler and said thirdrollers and thereby fed between said two rollers with the sheet materialfrom said one source to project the sheet material from said othersource through said discharge slot for withdrawal from the cabinet.

2. A device for automatically dispensing two continuous webs of sheetmaterial in succession, comprising a cabinet having a downwardly openingdischarge slot, means in the cabinet for supporting the two webs to bedispensed, a dispensing roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet, 9.pressure roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet parallel to saiddispensing roller and pressed against the latter so that, when one ofsaid webs is passed between said dispensing and pressure rollers andthen withdrawn from said cabinet through said discharge slot, saidrollers are rotated, a control roller extending parallel to saidpressure roller and located with respect to the latter substantially indiametrical opposition to said dispensing roller, means mounting saidcontrol roller for movement toward and away from said pressure roller,and means for displacing said control roller acting in response to theamount of said one web remaining in said cabinet to hold said controlroller substantially spaced from said pressure roller so long as theremaining amount of said one web exceeds a predetermined value so thatthe other Web can-extend between said control and pressure rollers andremain immobile during rotation of said pressure and dispensing rolls,and to move said control roller against said pressure roller when theremaining amount of said one web falls below said predetermined value sothat said other web between the control and pressure rollers is thenfrictionally engaged by the latter and fed with said one web betweensaid pressure and dispensing rollers to project said other web throughsaid discharge slot for withdrawal from said cabinet.

3. A device for automatically dispensing two continuous webs of sheetmaterial in sequence, comprising a cabinet having a downwardly openingdischarge slot, means in said cabinet for supporting the two webs to bedispensed, a dispensing roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet abovesaid slot, a pressure roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet abovesaid dispensing roller and urged against the latter so that, when one ofsaid webs is with drawn through said slot after passing downwardly inback of said pressure roller and then forwardly between said pressureand dispensing rollers, said rollers are thereby rotated, a controlroller above said pressure roller mounted for movement toward and awayfrom said pressure roller so that, when the other web is passeddownwardly in back of said control roller and then forwardly betweensaid pressure and control rollers, the spacing of said control rollerfrom said pressure roller permits said other web to remain immobile assaid pressure and dispensing rollers are rotated in response towithdrawal of said one web, while the movement of said control rolleragainst said pressure roller causes the Iii rotation of the latter tomove said other web rearwardly into frictional engagement with said oneweb for passage with the latter between said pressure and dispensingrollers and out of said slot where said other web is then exposed forwithdrawal from the cabinet, and actuating means for said control rolleracting in response to the amount of said one web remaining in saidcabinet to hold said control roller spaced from said pressure roller solong as the remaining amount of said one web exceeds a predeterminedvalue and to move said control roller against said pressure roller whenthe remaining amount of said one web decreases below said predeterminedvalue, thereby to automatically expose said other web for withdrawalfrom the cabinet prior to the complete exhaustion of said one web.

4. A device as in claim 3; further comprising means defining a cuttingedge extending parallel to said discharge slot, and means periodicallyarresting the rotation of said dispensing roller so that the length of aweb projecting out of said slot can then be separated from the remainderof the web in the cabinet by tearing the web along said cutting edge.

5. A device as in claim 4; further comprising a timing mechanismoperatively associated with said means periodically arresting therotation of said dispensing roller to adjustably determine the extent ofthe time during which rotation of the dispensing roller is arrested.

6. A device as in claim 5; wherein said means periodically arresting therotation of said dispensing roller includes a cam member rotatable withthe latter and having a spiral cam surface with radially inner and outerends connected by a radial shoulder and a stop surface extending acrosssaid radially outer end of the spiral cam surface and spaced from saidradial shoulder, a follower pin movable radially with respect to theaxis of rotation of said cam member, and resilient means urging saidfollower pin radially inward, said pin having a diameter less than thespace between said step surface and shoulder so that, during rotation ofsaid dispensing roller, said follower pin rides on said spiral camsurface and is moved radially outward into the path of said stop surfaceto be engaged by the latter for halting the rotation of the dispensingroller, whereupon, said follower pin moves radially inward between saidshoulder and stop surface to again engage the radially inner end of thespiral cam surface and thereby release said dispensing roller forrenewed rotation; and wherein said timing mechanism includes a rodmovable with said follower pin and carrying a piston, a cylinder havingsaid piston reciprocable therein, and means for restricting the flow offluid past said piston in said cylinder during the movement of said rodcorresponding to the radially inward movement of said follower pin sothat such radially inward movement of the pin is slowed to delay therelease of the dispensing roller for renewed rotation.

7. A device as in claim 6; wherein said piston is loosely slidable onsaid rod to define an annular clearance therebetween, and said means forrestricting the flow of fluid past said piston includes a sleeveslidable on said rod, means for securing said sleeve with respect tosaid rod in an adjusted position along the latter, and a sealing ring onsaid rod between said sleeve and said piston to substantially seal saidclearance between said piston and rod when said sealing ring is movedagainst an end face of the piston by said sleeve, said end face of thepiston having a radial groove of small cross-sectional area throughwhich fluid can leak past said sealing ring.

8. A device for automatically dispensing sheet material from first andsecond folded stacks thereof in sequence, comprising a cabinet having adownwardly opening discharge slot, lower and upper shelves in saidcabinet for supporting the first and second stacks, respectively, adispensing roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet above said slot, apressure roller rotatably mounted in said cabinet above said dispensingroller and urged against l 7 the latter so that, when the sheet materialof said first stack is withdrawn through said slot after passing fromsaid lower shelf downwardly in back of said pressure roller and thenforwardly between said pressure and dispensing rollers, said rollers arethereby rotated, a control roller above said pressure roller mounted formovement toward and away from the latter so that, when the sheetmaterial from said second stack is passed downwardly in back of saidcontrol roller and then forwardly between said pressure and controlrollers, the spacing of said control roller from the pressure rollerpermits the sheet material therebetween to remain immobile as saidpressure and dispensing rollers are rotated, while the movement of saidcontrol roller against said pressure roller cause the rotation of thelatter to move the sheet material from said second stack rearwardly overthe pressure roller into frictional engagement between said pressureroller and the sheet material from the first stack for movement with thelatter between the dispensing and pressure rollers and out of said slotwhere the sheet material from the second stack is then exposed forwithdrawal from the cabinet, and actuating means for said control rolleracting in response to the amount of the first stack remaining on saidlower shelf to hold said control roller spaced from said pressure rollerso long as the remaining amount of said first stack exceeds apredetermined value and to move said control roller against saidpressure roller when the remaining amount of said first stack decreasesbelow said predetermined value, thereby to automatically expose thesheet material from the second stack for withdrawal from the cabinetprior to the complete exhaustion of said first stack.

9. A device as in claim 8; wherein said lower shelf is mounted in saidcabinet for pivoting about an axis parallel to the axis of said controland pressure rollers; and wherein said actuating means for the controlroller includes means mounting said control roller on said lower shelfso that tilting of the latter effects movement of said control rollertoward and away from said pressure roller, means yieldably urging saidlower shelf to tilt in the direction moving said control roller towardsaid pressure roller, and a control member projecting from said cabinetabove said lower shelf and adapted to engage between folds of said firststack when the latter is loaded on said lower shelf so that apredetermined number of folds at the bottom of said first stack areinterposed between said lower shelf and said control member to preventtilting of said lower shelf in said direction moving said control rollertoward said pressure roller until the folds at the bottom of the firststack have been withdrawn from said cabinet. I

10. A device as in claim 8; wherein said lower shelf is mounted in saidcabinet for pivoting about an axis parallel to the axes of said controland pressure rollers between a horizontal position and a tilted positionin which the front edge and the back edge of said lower shelf arerespectively lowered and raised; and wherein said actuating means forthe control roller includes means rotatably supporting said controlroller from said lower shelf so that said control roller is'spaced fromsaid pressure roller when said lower shelf is in said horizontalposition and said control roller bears against said pressure roller whensaid lower shelf is in said tilted position, first spring meansyieldably urging said lower shelf to said tilted position, and a fixedcontrol member projecting forwardly in said cabinet over said back edgeof the lower shelf and spaced upwardly from the latter when said lowershelf is in its horizontal position so that a predetermined number offolds at the bottom of said first stack are interposed between saidcontrol member and the lower shelf to prevent pivotal movement of thelatter to said tilted position until the folds at the bottom of saidfirst stack have been withdrawn from the cabinet.

11. A device as in claim 10; wherein said cabinet further includes acover movable between a closed position and an open position in whichthe interior of said cabinet is exposed to permit the loading of foldedstacks of sheet material on said shelves; and further comprising springactuated means operative, only when said cover is in said open position,to overcome the elfect of said first spring means and, thereby, to holdsaid lower shelf in said horizontal position so that the back edge ofthe lower shelf will be spaced downwardly from said fixed control memberfor accommodating the folds at the bottom of said first stacktherebetween during the loading of said first stack on said lower shelf.

12. A device as in claim 11; wherein said spring.

actuated means for holding the lower shelf in its horizontal positiononly when said cover is open includes a laterally extending memberpivoted about an axis parallel to the pivoting axis of the lower shelfand arranged adjacent said front edge of the lower shelf, said laterallyextending member having rearwardly directed portions extending undersaid front edge of the lower shelf and movable between horizontal anddownwardly inclined positions where said rearwardly directed portionsrespectively hold said lower shelf in said horizontal position andpermit pivoting of said lower shelf to said tilted position, secondspring means acting on said laterally extending member to pivot thelatter in the direction moving said rearwardly directed portions to saidhorizontal positions with a force exceeding the force exerted by saidfirst spring means on said lower shelf, and means actuated by saidcover, on movement of the latter to said closed position, to positivelypivot said laterally extending member in the direction moving saidrearwardly directed portions to said inclined positions so that saidlower shelf is then released for pivoting to said tilted position.

13. A device as in claim 12; wherein said laterally extending member isin the form of a rim which is sub stantially vertically directed whensaid rearwardly directed portions are downwardly inclined to retain saidfirst stack on said lower shelf, and which is forwardly inclined whensaid rearwardly directed portions are horizontal, thereby to facilitateloading of the first folded stack on the lower shelf.

14. A device as in claim 11; further comprising a leaf spring mountedwithin said cabinet, and diverging downwardly from the back of thelatter toward the front edge of said fixed control member to prevent theimproper loading of said first stack on said lower shelf with the bottomof said first stack resting on said fixed control member, and means onthe inside of said cover engageable with said first stack duringmovement of said cover to its closed position to displace the firststack rearwardly against said leaf spring so that folds at the bottom ofthe first stack enter between said fixed control member and said lowershelf.

15. A device as in claim 11; wherein said means rotatably supportingsaid control roller from said lower shelf includes a frame havingsupport members extending rearwardly from said control roller at theopposite ends of the latter, and means slidably connecting said supportmembers to said lower shelf so that said frame pivots with the latterwhile being free to move with respect to said shelf between a forwardloading position, where said control roller is spaced forwardly fromsaid pressure roller to facilitate the initial passage of the sheetmaterial from said second stack between said control and pressurerollers, and a rearward operative position where said control roller isabove said pressure roller, said frame being engageable by said cover,upon movement of the latter to its closed position, to move said frameto said operative position with respect to said lower shelf.

16. A device for automatically dispensing sheet material from first andsecond rolls thereof in sequence, comprising a cabinet having adownwardly opening discharge slot, means in said cabinet for rotatablysupport- 19 a ing said firstand second rolls of sheet material in upperand lower positions, respectively, a dispensing roller rotatably,mountedin said cabinet above said slot, a pressure roller rotatablymounted in saidcabinet above said dispensing roller and urged againstthe latter so that, when'sheet material from said first roll iswithdrawn through said slot after passing downwardly in back of saidpressure roller and then forwardly between said pressure and dispensingrollers, said rollers are thereby rotated, a control roller above saidpressure roller mounted for m'ovement toward and away from the latter sothat, when the sheet material from said second roll is passed downwardlyin back of said control' roller and .then forwardly between saidpressureand control rollers, the spacing of said control roller fromsaid pressure roller permits the sheet material therebetween to remainimmobile assaid pressure and dispensing rollers are rotat ed, wh ile themovement of said control roller against said pressure roller causes therotation of the latter to move the sheet material from the second rollrearwardly over the pressure roller into frictional engagement betweensaid pressure roller and the sheet material from said first roll formovement with the latter sheet material between the dispensing andpressure rollers and out of said slot where the sheet material from thesecond roll is then exposed for withdrawal from the cabinet, andactuating meansfor said control roller acting in respoii se to thediameter of said first roll to hold said control rollers spaced from'said pressure roller so'long as the diameter of said first roll exceedsa predetermined value and to move said control roller against saidpressure roller when'the' diameter of said first roll decreases belowsaid predetermined value, thereby-to automatically exposethe sheetmaterial of said second 'roll for withdrawal from the cabinet prior tothe complete exhaustion of said first roll. I

17. A device as in claim 16; wherein said actuating means includes firstspring means urging said control roller in the direction away from saidpressure roller, a follower roller mounted for movement radially withres'p'ectto the axis 'of'the first roll, second spring means urging saidfollower radially towardsai'd axis'of'the first roll so that saidfollower rollermoves'radiallyin accordance with decreases in thediameter 'of'said first roll, and lever means pivotally mounted on saidcabinet 'and engageable with said follower'and control rollers to movesaid control roller against said pressure roll'er as said followerroller movesradially :inwardwith the "reduction of diameter of 'saidfirst roll .belowsaid predetermined value.

18. In a towel dispenser having'aroller'which is 1'0- tated duringdispensing operation and a locking memher which is moved from a releaseposition to a locking position during aldispensing operation in order to'halt rotation of said roller at the completion of a dispensingoperation and which is thereafter returned to said, release position topermit renewed rotation of the roller; a mechanism for timing the returnof said locking member to said release position comprising a rodconnected with said locking member to move longitudinally in onedirection in response to return of said locking member to its releaseposition and in the opposite direction in response to movement of saidlocking member from said release position to said locking position, apiston loosely slidable on said rod to define an annular clearancetherebetween, a fluid containing cylinder having said pistonreciprocable therein, first abutment means on said rod at the side ofsaid piston facing in said one direction of movement of the rod andengageable with said piston during movement of said rod in said oppositedirection to cause said piston to move with said rod in said oppositedirection, second abutment means on said rod at the side of said pistonfacing in said opposite direction of movement of the rod and operativeto cause movement of said piston with said rod in said one direction ofmovementof the latter so that the resistance to moveinent of said rod isdetermined by the resistance to the flow of fluid through said clearanceduring movement of said piston with said rod, and a sealing ring on saidrod between said second abutment means and 'said piston to substantiallyseal said 'c'learance-wh'en'said ring is moved against an end face ofthe piston by said second abutment means, said end face of the pistonhaving a radial groove of small cross-sectional area through which fluidcan leak past said sealing ring while providing Substantial re sistanceto movement of said rod in said one direction corresponding to return ofthe locking member to its release position, thereby to delay said returnto the release position.

19. In atowel dispenser, a timing mechanism as in claim 18; wherein saidsecond abutment means includes a sleeve slidable on said rod, and meansfor securing'said sleeve 'with respect to said rod in'an adjustedposition along the latter,'thereby to vary the length of the stroke ofsaid rod in said one direction during which said sealing ring is pressedagainst. said end face of the piston for correspondingly varying theextent of the delay of said return of the locking member to its releaseposition.

Hinckley Jan. 30, 1923 Tansley Aug. 12, 1958

